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Helping you to do MORE for God through your Work

Personalized Faith Plan

Leaning In and Working Out

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“We hold ourselves back in ways both big and small, by lacking self-confidence, by not raising our hands, and by pulling back when we should be leaning in.” Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead.

After I read this book I was intrigued with the idea of Leaning In . . . to God. Throughout the book one message rings clear, if you want something or want to do something then you have to stand up for it and sometimes fight for it. Are you, as a Woman of Faith, ‘fighting’ for the ONE relationship that matters most?

Let’s look into this concept LEAN IN. I love acronyms so I have devised this one to help you visualize the actions behind it.

L- listen to God

E- evaluate and reframe your viewpoint

A- access His power

N- note or place your attention, reflect

I- imitate the Father and Christ

N- His name, your reputation and whose you are.

Only by pulling together each of these actions can you grow your faith in a way that is not dependent on your church attendance but is dependent on God.

What is possible by Leaning In to God? Everything. How? First, you need to fill up on Him each day by taking time with Him. Then you can access His super-abundance by creating habits that matter. You take control of your spiritual growth by cooperating with God. AND, you show your commitment to the Father in your actions each day.

Leaning In to God takes your Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength. It begins with looking on the inside. Your Heart represents your feelings and emotions. Your Soul is that part of you that is imaginative and just knows when something is right, your intuition. The Mind incorporates your intellect and also gives you your ability to reason. Your Strength includes your actions and your experiences.

God tells us to love Him with all these parts of ourselves. Only by cultivating practices that grow your faith in a way that makes sense to you will you actually follow through and be consistent in Leaning In to God.

Imagine, Leaning In– to God, in your way; Leaning In to God the way He designed you. Don’t hold back from Him out of your fears or out of a lack of self-confidence. You can do it through the Personalized Faith Plan. Download it now and start your adventure connecting to God in a whole new way.

Raise your hand and say, “I will do it”. Step forward and make a commitment TO do it. And, Lean In to God . . .

Be filled to overflowing,

 

Deneen

 

P.R.A.Y.E.R.

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Prayer, What does it mean to you when you hear the word? Do you see yourself kneeling in church, lifting your arms toward the sky, or holding hands in a group? What does it mean to Pray without ceasing? How can Prayer help your life and your business?

PRAYER is-

Purposeful. Research shows that prayer is a powerful tool for self-control; making you a nicer person; increasing your ability to forgive; increasing trust; and, offsetting the negative effects of stress. But you probably don’t need to hear this. You know that prayer and praying are good for you, right?

And, prayer is part of your planning process. In the Bible, we learn that God used Rahab, a woman with a questionable reputation, to be part of the lineage of Jesus. She trusted God when she didn’t even know Him yet. She started with a Plan. Her thoughts were her prayers. She wanted to save her family, she wanted a different life, and God redeemed her through her Planning.

Make your prayers purposeful by bringing all your plans to God.

 

Real. Talk to God in the way you would talk to a friend. God wants your vertical relationship with Him to be your most intimate. How do you connect with people in the world? Through conversation, right? When we open up to God and are honest with ourselves before Him, then we are being real.

Our deepest need is that soul longing connection with God. In a conversation with a friend there needs to be authentic communication. Guess what? It works the same way when you are talking to God. He invites you to spend time with Him. You have to agree to have real connection with Him through prayer.

Charles Spurgeon said, “You learn to pray by praying.” That is the best communication practice you have that makes connection with God Real.

 

Adjustment. We are all following a path in this life. Some paths are straightforward while others meander in different directions. No matter where they go or how they are travelled we are each on our own path. It is okay. Galatians 6:4-5 says, Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

God wants us to align with Him for our success. He will give you the vision for what He wants you to do. AND you know what? He also equips you to do what He is calling you to do. By staying in communication with Him through daily prayer you stay close to Him, know His will, and have no fear for the adventure.

Prayer can look different too. Find a way to pray that helps you connect to God. (For me it is using my colored pens & pencils in my Journal.)

 

Yielding. God’s will for you is better than you can imagine. The vision you have for your business was put there by God. He asks us to be satisfied in the place He has us now; then we are ready to move into the next phase. Do you really believe He has your best interest at heart?

Remember, 10% of life is what happens to you and 90% is how you react to it. So, the more you pray then . . . the better you can handle any situation. Do you see the logic? God wants to transform you into His image. He wants you to see your work as your way of serving Him. AND, He wants you to place Him at the head of life and business. Trust Him by doing what He is asking you to do.

Plus, prayer is your first line of defense so you show up in your business exactly as God planned for you.

 

Expectation. Your definition of success needs to be what God has designed for you. Many times, we can be caught up in the world’s definition of success. God has so much more for you. Celebrate successes along the way. Each time you obey God, success. Each time you make progress, success.

Expect God to show up in BIG ways for you. Ask Him for outrageous things. That vision He gave you when you began your business is small compared to where He wants to take you. And, don’t worry about feeling equipped. He will bring the resources you need to help you when you most need it.

Pray prayers of gratitude for all He has given you so far AND prayers of expectation as you plan the future together.

 

Routine. Have you found it hard to find time to pray? Do you think you are not good at praying? Are you not able to focus when you pray? You are like me (and a lot of others who are not being honest). I want to share a simple technique. Instead of working through an entire hour, stop what you are doing at the end of a ‘50-minute hour’ and allow yourself to switch gears by re-charging your brain. (This is science.)

Sit comfortably and quiet your mind by focusing on your breathing. Close your eyes or focus on an object/picture. Just breath normal and bring your attention to the breath moving in and out of your nose. Then feel the breath moving your chest and stomach as you inhale and exhale. Give yourself a minute or two just focusing on it. This gives your brain needed oxygen (yes, you will start to breath deeper, it is natural).

Now move into intentional thinking: Prayer

  • One thing you are Grateful for
  • One thing that is a Concern for you
  • One Friend
  • One Family member

No more than these four points. You can write it down or just think through it. By doing this exercise at various times during your day you will accumulate several minutes of prayer that will be better for your brain, your body, and your soul.

 

Pray, Plan, Pray MORE.

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

 

 

 

Feeling Empty? Get to Work.

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Empty?

After a day of kids, carpools, laundry, meal planning, cooking, cleaning, marketing, phone calls, meetings, networking, and clients you can feel a little empty.  Let’s face it, a lot of empty. And, I forgot to mention your self-care that includes exercise, eating well, and spiritual renewal (aka, time with God). Are you there? Do you feel that drain as you read the list?  I feel the drain just writing it.

Problem

That’s where we find the Widow in Debt, in a place where she is empty. She has nothing left and is ready to lose even more.  Her husband, has been a part of the prophets who have been working with Elijah and now, Elisha (2 Kings 4:1). He had been faithful to God. Why would she be in this predicament? Why are you in yours?

I love that she goes straight to her spiritual leader to ask for help. The creditors are ready to take her sons as slaves to fulfill her husband’s debt. Do you think she blamed Elisha for her situation? I can hear some of the thoughts going through her head, ‘if only we hadn’t had to borrow that money to live while my husband was following the man of God’. Even the most devout can have doubts when they can’t understand what God is doing.

She reaches out to him either because she blames him or because she expects him to help her. Either way, she is in front of Elisha asking for his assistance. She is bold in her request and tells it straight forward in a way this prophet can respect.

Solution

His response is quick and simple. He asks, ‘How can I help and what do you have in your house?’ (2 Kings 4:2) In Hebrew, the word for widow literally means, empty house.  How ironic that Elisha asks her that question.  Her immediate response is, ‘I have nothing’. I can almost hear the irritation in her voice. Then, in the same breath, she says, ‘Well, I have a little oil’.

You might feel empty, but I bet you have a little oil.

God wants you to trust Him with the little things. He builds your faith on what you hold out to Him. You may feel you have nothing to offer, but you do. Think about those tasks that come easily to you. In your business, you shine in one area and it gives you joy. Give it to God for His use.

Elisha’s response is not to give her a hand out, it is to give her a means of helping herself. She may have been expecting him to just give her a miracle but God had another way to heal her heart. There is no pity from the prophet about her predicament. He gives her a plan.

Healing for her comes from acting. Elisha tells her to collect from anyone and everyone as many containers as she can. He gives her a project to do so she is focused on what she has, the little oil, and not on what she does not have. In fact, her project is so big she must include her sons, the very ones she is afraid of losing. She displays her complete trust in Elisha (and God) by getting to work.

There is a saying that the more you give the more you get. I think a truer saying is, the more you give God the more He can bless it. It is in our obedience to Him in the little things that we can be given larger responsibilities. God wants it all. She gave what she had and God multiplied it.

Me? Empty?

A while back I felt like I had nothing to give. I was going in so many directions, following so many ‘experts’ and trying to do it all to make my business grow.  I thought I was doing it right. I thought this was what God wanted. Then I crashed. The very thing I thought I was to be doing was taken away from me. It was hard.

I decided to rest for a while and regroup. During that time I discovered that God wanted me to rest. He taught me that I just have to put it before Him and wait. Waiting is hard for me. It has been over 6 months now and I must say it has been worth the wait. As I give God each of my ideas, my programs, my personality, my . . . well, everything I have seen tremendous growth in my life and business. I still follow certain ‘experts’ but they have passed the God-test and are good for me.

You? Empty?

God asks you to offer what you have so He can use it (Rom 12:1). He only asks you to start with the small things in your life: schedule, attitudes, relationship with Him. Then He expects you to look at the bigger things in your life and hold them out to Him too: priorities, values, business. Do you have any oil? What resources has God equipped you with for your business that you need to hold out to Him?

The Calling Clarity Course might be there very Resource you need to figure it all out. Get on the waiting list by clicking here and sending me a message that just states, “Put me on the list”. It will be amazing!

 

 

 

Choose Your Adventure

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Do you remember the Choose Your Own Adventure books? Those stories were exciting to read. The story was always full of suspense and the adventure intriguing. At the bottom of a certain page there would be a choice to make.  AND, those choices never seemed to be exactly what you would do. What to do next . . .

For me it was always a dilemma to make those types of choices. I wanted to choose the best adventure. Should I flip to the next page or go deeper into the book? Which would be better? Did it matter? The beauty of these books was that you could read them again and again and never have the same thing happen.

Your Christian life can be the same type of adventure. Just like those books, your choices have direct influence on how the adventure goes. Maybe you feel there are too many choices? Serving God can mean showing up for a volunteer opportunity at church. Learning about God by joining a Bible Study. Or, for more adventure, going on an overseas mission trip. What choices have you made that are making this Christian adventure exciting? Is it working for you?

God has so much more. He has created an adventure specifically for you and wants you to choose to be on the ride. The adventure is daily and runs through your entire life, not just at times when you are with ‘God’s people’ learning and serving. God’s plan includes your uniqueness shining in the world.

1 Corinthians 12:12 says that we are all part of the same body. Your function is different from everyone else’s. Your adventure is exclusive to you. AND, you get to complete the picture God has for His Church, His people, by choosing to live it.

How? By inviting God into every day.

Recently, I led a group in the study of Spiritual Gifts and how they can be applied to the workplace. Each woman in the study is a business owner and each desires to live out her own Christian life adventure. This study revealed their top Spiritual Gifts and we discussed how each was or could be applied daily through their work.

Spiritual Gifts are given when we need them. They are meant to edify the group. They can reflect natural abilities but are often surprises on the adventure. Recognizing them can be a challenge; allowing God to use them is your choice.  I wanted to see the diversity of our group and how we complemented one another.

One woman has the Faith gift. She did not know how that fit into her adventure. Faith is defined as belief that God will do things that are impossible for us apart from His intervention. She had been dealing with cancer that had reoccurred. Her attitude has always remained positive. Those in her office see her as calm, steady, and assured that everything will work out. She hadn’t seen that her Faith was sticking out all over the place as she trusted God for the results of treatment.

Another woman has the Pastoring gift. She laughed when this result came to light. At first she felt that she could not possibly have a gift she thought was reserved for Pastors. But the definition for Pastoring is caring consistently for the personal needs of others through personalized counseling and coaching. While she is not a coach, she is a listener. God has given her many opportunities to pour into other’s lives. She is a magnet for those hurting and in need of comfort.

Each has her own adventure. Within our small group we have Administration, Teaching, Connecting, and Hospitality gifts. Each woman contributes to our group in her unique way. Each gives a perspective that brings richness to our group and fulfills the needs of someone else.

You have an adventure too. Your GIFTS are for you to share. Choosing to serve God and others through your gifts brings an awareness of God to the world. You SHINE for Him.

The Christian life is an adventure. It is a daily commitment to see your world through God’s eyes. Ask Him to help you choose the right next step. God is surprising and He will sometimes give you a choice that seems different than anything you would choose. That’s when He says, “Do you trust me with your adventure?”

Your story continues. You may not be able to go back and make a different choice in the adventure, but you can move forward in your story and make choices that create the Christian adventure God has for YOU. You are right where you need to be. Ride the adventure in His strength by connecting to Him. Your choices will be easy.

 

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

P.S. Your Personalized Faith Plan is waiting for you. Find your uniqueness and make your adventure count for God.

 

3 Steps to Creating the Right Vision for Your Passion

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There is an ache inside of you just wanting to come out, right? You know you were meant for something more than what you are doing. Or, you have decided to follow that passion that has been burning inside for a while and you can just feel that you are on the verge of making it happen.

Are you there? Do you have a plan? The next three things to consider will open your vision and allow you to live your passion. Where there is a plan there is a method to achieve it. This 3-step process will allow you to create your business vision.

Dream

Get a clear image in your mind of where you want your business to go.  Give yourself some time to sit with this idea.  Take a journal and start to write down the biggest dream you have for your business. Don’t get into the how, what, where, when.  Allow yourself to write down how far you want to take your business. Write down what inspired you about this business idea. Why is it the thing you should do?

For me it is about seeing the long-term vision. I want to create get-a-way retreats. That is the dream. I see the coffee country of Colombia as the backdrop for my Connecting Faith & Business retreats. What is your dream?

View

Next, consider how you want the world to view your business. What type of reputation do you want to have in the marketplace? What is its place and how will it affect others? Write this down in your journal also. Add details about how you will get there. This is a little more in in depth than just dreaming. In your details include finances, service, growth, sustainability, etc. Remember, this is still a general view (don’t get too detailed).

Again, I see the steps as starting here in the USA with overnight and weekend retreats. I need to develop programs that women want to be involved with that have meaning for them as they pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. I want to take these retreats all over the United States to be the get-a-way Faith & Business Retreat.

Statement

Then, think about what your business does, and imagine what your business would look like if it became the best possible version of itself. Take the best portions of your dream and view to create a clear and concise statement. It should describe the best outcome for your business and be realistic. It should use language that builds a picture in other’s minds. Make the statement powerful, full of passion and memorable.

My statement includes creating a picture of retreats that give the participants direction and purpose for their calling. The perfect picture of my business would be that they would leave a retreat knowing how they uniquely connect to God and how they are equipped to complete the purpose God has for them in the Marketplace.

Here are some examples to ignite your thoughts about creating a Vision Statement:

  • ‘There will be a personal computer on every desk running Microsoft software.’ (Microsoft’s original vision statement)
  • ‘Our vision is to be earth’s most customer centric company; to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online.’ (Amazon.com)
  • ‘To build a community of coffee lovers in Brisbane, by serving the best coffee at the best possible prices.’ (local café)
  • ‘Our salon will change the way you think about a haircut, and leave you glowing both inside and out.’ (local hairdresser)

http://www.qld.gov.au/

Once created, this Vision Statement becomes a tool for you to measure your progress and success. By carefully crafting it, it becomes the filter you can use to make key business decisions. Since it represents the heart and soul of your business you are able to know if the next move is a good one or not by assessing it from the viewpoint of your vision.

God is calling you to live your purpose. He created you just for this time in history to fulfill His mission for your life. That business vision you have in your mind is good and worth exploring. He has uniquely given you all you need to complete the vision.

Let’s work together to discover HOW He has equipped you through your personality, strengths, values, expertise, talents, experiences, and Spiritual gifts to realize the vision He put in your heart and that is pushing to get out. Sign up for the next intake of the Clarity Calling Program. Email deneen@GrowFromYourOverflow.com and say, ‘Put me on the list’. You will receive details about the program designed to help you live the Dream, create the View, and write the Vision.

Be filled to overflowing,

Deneen

8 Practical Principles to Connect Faith & Business

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Do you ever wonder why you have this idea for a business in your head? Is there a dream that you have had ruminating around inside of you for a while? Do you have vision of doing something greater? It is good.

That God-given vision along with your specific set of skills, talents, gifts, and experiences brings your uniqueness into the world. No one has ever existed just like you and God has given you a purpose, a job, to do what only you can accomplish. Let’s look at God’s design.

A Plan-

God created you to work. From the beginning, Eve was created to be a helper. And, as a helper she was mandated to work alongside Adam for the physical work of caring for the garden.  They are told to be fruitful and multiply as well as subdue and govern it. Both intellectual work and physical work have no distinction for God. There is no mention about which type of work is more important or more ‘godly’.  All work is necessary and Good.

A Perspective-

As a believer in Jesus you have your position, your business, to do something.  God calls you a living stone that He is building to offer spiritual sacrifices pleasing to Him (1 Pet 2:5).  You are chosen as a royal priest to show others the goodness of God (1 Pet 2:9). Like Esther, you are royalty in the Marketplace. God has called you to the marketplace for His specific purpose. No one else has your set of credentials to do the job He has called you to do.

A Personality-

Only you can show up as you in your business and life. God never asks you to change your personality, but He does change you. You are unique and so was Lydia. A woman with her own style!  Flamboyant, friendly and successful. And, she loved God! (Acts 16:15) A woman just like you, merging her two worlds by staying culturally relevant as she stayed positioned to share her faith.

A Prayer-

God gives supernatural gifts so you can live out His calling on your life. Rahab trusted God even when she didn’t know Him. She believed in a power more than herself and put her faith in that power.  She knew she could not control the situation she was in or rely on her own strength for survival. Look to God to do big things.  Trust God to give you exactly what you need, when you need it, to do exactly what He wants you to do to move forward and work in your business.

A Person-

Building supportive relationships is essential for your business. You are never alone. God brings specific people into your life to give you strength and encouragement to do what He has called you to do. Priscilla was that type of relationship for Paul. A friendship that was business and spiritual. By working together each day, you too build relationships with people in the office, in networking groups, and in other business dealings.  This provides an opportunity for you to connect with other believers for mutual support.

A Prudence-

Statistics say it takes ten years of focused study to become an expert in any field and building a reputation can take just as long. Huldah understood this well. She spent her entire life in the pursuit of knowledge.  Her world and today’s world are the same.  Everyone is doing their own thing and there is no moral authority. You may feel like it doesn’t matter what you do or how you act; that no one is paying attention. Know this, the things you do that go beyond the expectations of your customers, clients, colleagues and co-workers builds the reputation God wants for you.

A Promotion-

Seeing the activities of your entire life, specifically your work, to give God glory is the starting point. There is no difference between the sacred and the secular.  Martha shows us there is not.  As she led her household she had many responsibilities.  She was never asked to give that up as she followed Christ.  Her work served the kingdom and is God-given.  It was necessary work to fulfill God’s plan for her and to bring Him glory.  Jesus wanted Martha’s heart but never told her to separate her work-life from her faith-life.  He wanted her work to have purpose and meaning.  He wants that for you too.

A Provision-

God calls you to pursue excellence no matter your circumstance. You can never overlook the importance of your work by the size of your bank accounts, your popularity in the market, or by your position at the company.  God is looking at your heart, your devotion to Him, and shaping your character to be more like His.  Ruth’s story shows her doing just that, pursuing excellence, as she worked in the fields, gleaning grain to survive. She is our example of showing a good attitude and doing your best. God is giving you the power each day to get up and go do. Don’t depend on your own ability to make it happen, depend on God to make it all work out for your benefit.

The Bible is full of examples of women just like you. Did you know? God designed you for NOW. Follow that God-given dream and connect your faith and business.

Be filled to overflowing,

 

Deneen

 

4 Ways to Trust God with Your Business

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You are committed to making your business relevant for God’s Kingdom. You want to be the entrepreneur that gives God priority. Here are four things you can do now to trust God and make it happen.

 

Take a Sabbath

It’s Sunday afternoon and you are working on next week’s Social Media posts. Where is your family? What are you doing to honor God and remember Him? I am not saying that your Sabbath should be on Sunday, but do you have a time set apart each week for relaxation and refreshment? Do you take time to focus on things you enjoy so you recharge? Trust God with your business and you can take time to do the things you want to do, really.

Taking a Sabbath is just the beginning of the journey to trusting God with your business. That 24-hour period is important for your spiritual as well as mental health. God gave you the vision for your business and He is the One who will make it happen in the timing He wants. His example from Genesis was to show you that you can have time set apart to focus on Him so your brain can rest.

Brain studies show that your brain gets new information that can be applied to your challenges and therefore give you new ways to solve problems. Trust God when He says to take a REST. Know He has your best interest at heart and will help you through the business situation you are facing.

 

Make God your CEO

What about every day? Do you meet with your CEO, your Boss, each day? Carving out a daily time to check-in with the Boss, take challenges to Him, and/or have a brainstorm session will move your business forward. God cares about what you are doing in your business.  It is your way to serve others.  Marketplace service cannot happen unless you are connected to the One who gives you strength and support.

Create a journal or notebook with the meeting notes each day. Over time patterns will emerge as to the direction your business should go. Take time to review the pages and ask God to bring items to your attention that are important. Shut down all other distractions when you meet with your CEO. Focus on what He wants to say to you. His instructions are precise for your business.

Setting this time apart to think, regroup, and plan is important for any type of success. Your success is guaranteed if you are placing your trust in God and listening for His plans, His motives, and His methods. Trust that He wants the best for you and that He will direct you on the right path for your business. Through this daily meeting, ideas will come that are the perfect solution for you and your business.

 

Get calling clarity

Why are you in your business? What vision has God given you that tugs at your heart and motivates you? God has equipped you with all that you need to do what He is calling you to do. Think back over your life and look at the experiences, training, talents, and gifts you possess. God has given you this unique combination so you can show up in your industry, with a unique perspective. There is only one you.

Think through and list all your skills. Ask God to bring up things that are important for you to remember. Things you know how to do. Don’t discount any experience, class, hobby, or expertise. Even without formal training you may have a skill that is ideal for the way God wants you to present your business to the world.

Putting things down on paper gives you a way of getting it out of your brain so it doesn’t have to keep it captured. This allows more ideas and thoughts to enter. You have what you need inside of you, it is just a matter of coaxing it out. Trust God to bring all your talents to the surface. You will discover your Calling Clarity by trusting this process. See you as God sees you, fully equipped.

 

Grow in God

Do you have a time in your planner for your Spiritual growth? Are you making it a priority during your day? The only way to connect Faith and Business is to start with Faith. Setting aside time for prayer and Bible study is the beginning of wisdom. Being wise in your faith creates wisdom for your business. Allow God to reveal His heart to you through His love letter. Make that CEO meeting truly meaningful by adding faith into the mix.

Give God your best time of the day for this meeting. The time when you can best focus on Him. Personally, this is morning for me. I wake, grab the coffee, and sit in my favorite spot. I collect my materials for this important time. I have my study, Bible app, and journal. I give time to pray and start my day with listening to God’s heart. Everything we need for life and godliness is found in His Word (2 Pet 1:3).

Cultivating Spiritual Practices in your life will produce a growing Faith-life. These roots will give you the stability you desire as you move forward with your business. Trusting God comes from knowing God. Don’t neglect this step before you talk with Him about your business. He wants to be in relationship with you first and then everything else will follow.

 

Trusting God is simple when you have the success formula: Relationship with God + Time with God + Life led by God. Boost your trust factor by prioritizing. Trust Him when He brings resources into your life to help you seek Him first.  Start your Faith growth today with a Personalized Faith Plan. Trust God to make it happen.

 

Be filled to overflowing,

 

Deneen

 

Be Equipped for your Business Vision

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What is the Vision God has given you for a Business? I know you have one. There is something inside of you that is dying to get out. You feel that push in your Heart that must get out. Do you know what I am talking about?

As I began my Business journey I realized that the Vision I had was not big enough. Don’t be scared, but that push will open into an amazing adventure. Instead of being afraid of it, embrace it. Know that God is taking you through all the steps that lead to His Vision for you.

The Journey through these steps is FUN if you are with the perfect guide, God. He will keep you informed, inspired, and ready to take the Next Step. By using deep Spiritual Practices you will KNOW for sure you are on the right path. God wants to Connect with you on a level you have never experienced. Are you ready to begin?

The basic Spiritual Practices that we have talked about are Prayer, Bible Reading, Worship and Service. Those ARE the beginning. To keep in the Center of God’s Will and not be afraid to take the next step you must continue to go deep into other Spiritual Practices. Some you may already practice; some you may not have thought about . . . yet.

Okay, so what am I talking about? Journaling, Sabbath, Fasting and Solitude. These are the practices that will take you to a New Level in your Faith, and in your Business Vision.

Journaling. You may be thinking, I hate journaling. All that writing, so many feelings, etc. That is not what I am talking about. While writing down and responding to Scripture is a way to journal, so is just doodling around the Name for God on the page.

Physically, your brain slows down when you allow your hand to color and draw on the page. This allows for Communication with the Father. Write down your idea in the center of a page and see what God tells you about it. Your Listening capacity opens when you sit and journal the images, thoughts, words and ideas God gives you (and color makes it super fun).

Sabbath. Trust God and take a day off. We are pressured to ‘keep hustling’, but God says you need a break. He gave us the example of Rest (He did not need it). Again, brain research says that by going away from a problem or project and focusing on something completely unrelated gives your brain time to work on it. By refreshing your body and mind you CAN make better decisions and have more ideas.

I always save special things for my 24-hours off. I begin early Saturday evening until Sunday evening, but Sabbath can be when you make it. Save reading, family time, movie watching, outdoor fun, etc for this day. Connect to God while you connect to others through Rest. Come back to your hustle totally recharged.

Fasting. This is the Practice I am still struggling to incorporate on a consistent basis. For me it represents the most Trust I can give God. One reason is that I am sensitive to not having food in my system. This comes from my nutrition plan but then I think God can handle it, right?

Plus, it does not always require food.  It can be a fast from Social Media, Netflix, or anything that drains your time. Replace the activity with an extended time of prayer, journaling, Bible reading, and/or worship. It can be as simple as going on a walk in order to talk to God or as disciplined as going into your prayer closet (have you seen War Room). This Practice takes a plan and it does take more effort. Choose a time each week and just do it. Maybe skip a meal, turn off the television, or don’t check your phone for a period. Whatever you can do to carve out extra time to focus on what God wants to tell you, especially about your Business Vision.

Solitude. This is my favorite. I call it Creative Silence & Solitude. This is a quarterly Practice for me. There is something about coming before God, the CEO and Boss of my Business, to give a report. By having this extended time to sit with Him I can say I have had the Best Breakthroughs in Clarity.

This is a 6-hour day of pure Communication with Him. I have done many types of things on this day but it is my time to Hear from God. Whether I am doing Yoga, walking on the trails, sitting in a chair or on my knees by the bed, I am there to Seek His Will for my Business.  I reaffirm that it is His and that He has uniquely equipped me to bring it into the world.

Connecting your Faith & Business is easy when you are Connected to the ONE who gives you everything you need to Succeed. Get started today with a Spiritual Practices Plan that is as unique as you. Click on the PFP button and let’s chat.

Be filled to overflowing,

 

Deneen